Take Me Back: There & Back Again (In Far Too Short A Time) Past Review
By A student (Economics & Chinese, Wellesley College) - abroad from 02/23/2015 to 06/26/2015 with
The University of Auckland: Auckland - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
I learnt how to be happy and balanced in an academic environment. I learnt about the life outside stress culture.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived at Grafton Hall, one of the residence halls of the University of Auckland. |
| * Food: |
I'm not a picky eater and I don't have any dietary restrictions so I enjoyed the food overall. However, if you were a vegetarian, or observed other restrictions (Halal, Kosher, etc.) or had severe food allergies, you probably would have a tough time feeding yourself without preparing your own food. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt like I belonged there and that I'd known my hall mates, teammates and the friends I made in class most of my life. I found NZ to be an extremely welcoming, accepting, friendly and easygoing place. Honestly, the hardest part was leaving. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Never had an injury or had need to use the healthcare system but I know that I was on medical insurance covered by the University of Auckland which would allow me free medical access to the university clinics and physical therapy (which as an athlete I appreciated knowing, since my own home institution doesn't even offer that access to me). |
| * Safety: |
The country and the city is ridiculously safe. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Auckland/NZ is an expensive place but my scholarship covered it pretty generously. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | USD50 (food was included in the housing cost) |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | For breaks, plan out FAR in advance what it is your REALLY want to do, then overestimate. Take out a set amount (like USD200-300), put it in an envelope and then in a safe place and FORGET ABOUT IT. Think of it as no longer available cash. Forget it exists. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That I should have stayed for a year instead of one semester. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
